Improvement in portable fences



E. S. HO'IHAIVL PORTABLE FENCES.

Patented 0ct.10.1876.

J /Z @w [)2 (1e afar JAMES R OSGOOD 3: CO BOSTCN UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

EDMOND S. HOTHAM, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 83,056, dated October 10, 1876; application filed June 7, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMOND S. HOTHAM, of Syracuse, Onondaga county, New York, have invented an Improvement in Board or Picket Fence, of which the following is a specification My invention consists in the construction of a fence, as hereinafter described, that is readily removable or permanent, as desired. It is cheaply and easily constructed, so that after the panels and posts are made it can be transported and set up in the field without the use of bolts or nails; and it can be readily taken apart and moved without tools.

The construction is as follows. referring to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fence. Fig. 2 shows a post detached Fig. 3, one side of a panel, detached Fig. 4, the other side of the same panel.

The posts are each composed of five strips, consisting of a spring-piece or sill, a, at the center of which two uprights, b b, are fastened a sufiicient distance apart, and parallel, so as to receive the ends of the two adjoining panels, as hereinafter described.

The inclined braces c 0 have their lower ends fastened to the ends of the stringer a and their upper ends extending up and across both the uprights b b, one .on each side above the panel, to which they are both firmly affixed, as clearly seen in Fig. 2. The uprights and inclined braces being nailed upon opposite sides of the sill, thus greatly strengthen the post. The panels consist of two or more parallel boards or bars, 7', connected and held at each end by uprights 1 and 2, and a diagonal brace, 3, which does not, at either end,

extend quite up to the uprights 1 and 2, but leavesa space suflicient for the insertion of the upright on the adjoining panel. Another upright, 4, is aflixed near one end of the panel, and projects a little above and below the top and bottom rails. This upright is far enough from the end upright to form a space for receiving upright 2 on the next panel.

When the fence is to be set up, the panels are placed in line, upright 2 of one panel going between uprights l. and 4 of adjoining, and being securely locked between uprights b b of the post. The projecting ends of the uprights on the panels hold the post in place at top and bottom. The upper inner edge of 1 being chamfered at m, crowds the sill a firmly against the lower opposite projection of upright 4 of adjoining panel, by which the bottom of the post is held immovably.

A key, k, is inserted in the chamfer against the post at the top, holding it from lateral movement at that point and firmly securing the interlocked parts together. By withdrawing the key It the post can be slipped past the interlocking ends of the panels and all the parts readily disconnected.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- The construction and arrangement of the posts as herein described, in combination with the panels interlocking and held in place and firmly secured to the posts, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

EDMOND S. HOTHAM.

Witnesses:

ALLISON MEARS, FRANKLIN A. HAMLIN. 

